How does Son Heung-min make and spend his football millions? The captain of South Korea’s World Cup team splurges on luxuries … and started his own fashion brand like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi
It’s not just K-pop and K-drama stars raking in big bucks for their talent and landing lucrative sponsorship deals. Football has its own K-stars too – one of them being Son Heung-min, captain of the South Korean national team and star striker for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.
So what is Son worth, and how does he spend his millions?
Son Heung-min’s net worth
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Son’s net worth is US$50 million. He earns around £140,000 (US$193,500) a week from his July 2018 contract with Spurs, and is currently in negotiations for a new deal that would pay him about £200,000 a week, as per The Guardian. When he joined Tottenham in 2015 for £22 million, it made him the most expensive Asian footballer at the time.
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Big brand deals
He also made the list of most expensive Korean advertising stars in 2021, per TMI News, with an estimated advertising earnings of 15.6 billion won (US$12 million) per year, accumulating from sponsorships with a long list of brands, including Gillette, Adidas and Cartier. His economic effect on South Korea was estimated by the Korean government to be worth around two trillion won (US$1.8 billion) in 2020.
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His supercar collection
Known for his speed and energy as a striker, it’s not surprising that he likes fast cars, judging from his flashy collection. According to British media, his £1.5 million car collection includes a Ferrari LaFerrari, Audi R8 Coupe, Maserati Levante, Range Rover and Bentley Continental GT.
His sleek black LaFerrari, one of only 499 ever made, is estimated to be worth over £1.15 million.
His fancy houses
So where does he live? His new crib is in a four-storey luxury villa complex in Hampstead, England where prices start at US$8 million, per Hankyung. In the documentary Sonsational, he gave a tour of his luxurious yet minimalist home that includes facilities like a swimming pool, fitness room, cinema and more.
For his brief trips back home, he chills at his flat in the Seoul Forest Trimage, famous for its panoramic view of the Han river. He bought the apartment in 2017 for 2.44 billion won, per Hankyung – his neighbours are BTS’ J-Hope and Taeyeon of Girls’ Generation.
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His luxury watch collection
Bling on the wrist is a big thing for Son, as he has been seen wearing different Patek Philippe watches as well as a Rolex Yacht Master 1. He’s also the brand ambassador for Tag Heuer and Cartier. When he returned to Korea with the Golden Boot trophy in May, he was seen sporting a Patek Philippe Nautilus watch with a blue dial.
The model is offered for over 300 million won on the secondary market because it has been discontinued, as per Chosun.
In 2019, Tag Heuer released a US$2,500 HMS limited edition watch dedicated to Son: only 777 pieces were made, featuring number 7 motifs from Son’s jersey number, according to Maeil Business News Korea.
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He’s investing in fashion … with his own brand
According to the trademark application he filed to the Korean Intellectual Property Office, NOS7 will put out clothing, shoes and headgear.
According to Korea JoongAng Daily, Son is registered as the executive director with his aunt being the CEO of the brand.
Donations to the community
Famously known for his humility and warmth, Son also gives back to the community – a large share, in fact. He spent US$12 million to build the Son Football Academy in his hometown of Chuncheon where local youths are taught by his father Woong-jung, just as he was trained as a child, as per SoccerGator.
This is only one of Son’s many charitable contributions. In April 2019, he donated £100,000 to help with rescue operations and restoration after one of South Korea’s worst forest fires in Goseong, as reported by British media. He also donated 100 million won to a non-profit organisation for Covid-19 support.
- Among South Korea’s most high-profile celebrities alongside the likes of Blackpink, Son is brand ambassador for Calvin Klein and launched a collection with eyewear brand Gentle Monster
- Son loves Ferrari, Maserati, Patek Philippe and Rolex, and has luxury property in England and Seoul, where BTS’ J-Hope is a neighbour, but also he donates generously